Four Great Non-Fiction Books About Politics

From grassroots organizers to the most powerful individuals in the world, our leaders are a source of endless fascination. Learn more about what makes American politics tick with these four books:

The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A. Caro
This three volume biography chronicles the life of a president many don’t give much thought to. Johnson’s rise to power is fascinating to read about and provides an inside look into federal politics.

The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro
Master political Robert Caro deserves more than one entry on this list. This portrait of the midcentury “Master Builder” whose urban planning philosophy shaped our cities is riveting and revealing.

Nixonland by Rick Perlstein
Rick Perlstein’s freewheeling prose perfectly frames this story of the national sea change that brought mid 60s America from Johnson to Nixon. Nixon himself is revealed as a master politician who persuaded voters to elect him twice.

What I Saw at the Revolution by Peggy Noonan
Noonan’s memoir of her years as special assistant to presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush presents a compelling tale of Washington bureaucracy through the eyes of the lone woman in the room.